SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending November 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 439,000, an increase of 78,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 361,000. The 4-week moving average was 383,750, an increase of 11,750 from the previous week's revised average of 372,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is encouraging retail employers to take precautions to prevent worker injuries during Black Friday and other major sales events during the holiday season.

In 2008, a worker was trampled to death while a mob of shoppers rushed through the doors of a large store to take advantage of an after-Thanksgiving Day Black Friday sales event. OSHA recommends that retailers follow certain safeguards against this type of tragedy.

AUSTIN, Texas — Los Poblanitos LLC, doing business as Panaderia Chuy Bakery, has paid a total of $244,770 in back wages owed to 101 restaurant and bakery employees at two of the company's locations in Austin. The unpaid wages resulted from violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions that were uncovered during an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

Investigations find contractors on federally funded project violated Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $213,000 in back wages for 1,028 foreign students employed in summer jobs in Palmyra where they repackaged candies for promotional displays. The settlement with The SHS Group, LP, the Council for Educational Travel-USA, and Exel Inc. resolves federal minimum wage and overtime violations, and also resolves $143,000 in fines for safety and health violations found at an Exel-operated facility in Palmyra.

AKRON, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to enforce a final decision and order issued to North Canton-based trucking company Star Air and owner Robert R. Custer for terminating two truck drivers in violation of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act's whistleblower provisions. The company has been ordered to pay $612,205.

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a settlement that includes the payment of nearly $220 million to compensate employee benefit plans and other investors that suffered losses through investments in Bernard L. Madoff's Ponzi scheme. The settlement is pending approval by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and resolves department litigation, actions brought by New York's attorney general, and several private lawsuits and class actions brought on behalf of plans and other investors that invested with Madoff.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today released the following statement encouraging U.S. employers to commemorate the Veterans Day holiday Monday by making a commitment to hiring veterans:

"On Monday, America will celebrate the sacrifices of the men and women who've served their country in the armed forces. I strongly believe that the best way we can honor our veterans is to employ them.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending November 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 355,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's unrevised figure of 363,000. The 4-week moving average was 370,500, an increase of 3,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 367,250.

Whistleblower investigation found violations of the federal Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century

WASHINGTON – Continuing support of state and local partners in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, the U.S. Department of Labor approved a $1.5 million National Emergency Grant to assist Rhode Island with cleanup and recovery efforts.

"Hurricane Sandy unleashed incredible winds and rainfall that affected many lives in Rhode Island," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "As directed by President Obama, the Labor Department has expedited funding in order to offer state and local partners immediate support for their storm recovery efforts."

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is urging workers and members of the public engaged in Hurricane Sandy cleanup and recovery efforts in New York, New Jersey and the New England states to be aware of the hazards they might encounter and the steps they should take to protect themselves.

Date of Action: Oct. 11, 2012

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Shawn Hedgspeth, Smart Technology Inc. and the Smart Technology 401(k) plan

Allegations: In 2005, Smart Technology Inc., an Annandale, Va.,-based company, established a 401(k) plan for its employees.  An investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration found that the company failed to remit employee contributions to the plan from 2007 through 2009.

WASHINGTON – Continuing efforts to heed President Obama's call for federal agencies to act as quickly as possible to support state and local partners in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $27,792,296 National Emergency Grant to assist New York with cleanup and recovery efforts. These federal emergency relief funds are being made available to impacted counties to supplement state and local response and recovery efforts.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the October 2012 Employment Situation report released today:

"Our nation's labor market added 171,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in October, while the unemployment rate remained essentially unchanged at 7.9 percent. Additionally, our economy added back more than 84,000 jobs in August and September than had been initially reported.

WASHINGTON – Following President Obama's call for federal agencies to act as quickly as possible to support state and local partners in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $15,591,400 National Emergency Grant to assist New Jersey with cleanup and recovery efforts.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending October 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 363,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 372,000. The 4-week moving average was 367,250, a decrease of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average of 368,750.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration filed 39 requests during fiscal year 2012, more than in any other year, with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission for temporary reinstatements on behalf of miners who submitted complaints of discrimination in the form of a suspension, layoff, discharge or other adverse action.

Date of Action: Oct. 24, 2012

Name(s) of Defendant(s): J.M. Singley & Associates Inc.

Date of Action: Oct. 24, 2012

Name(s) of Defendant(s): J.M. Singley & Associates Inc.